A Village on the Brink of Collapse: A Silent Death Trap in the Hills of Lalitpur Nepal

Pic. 1: Landslide-prone area, high-risk village, and continuous excavation. 

  While traveling from Simara to Kathmandu, an unsettling sight caught my attention. As I observed out of the window, a particular village came into view that left me both shocked and thinking more about it. It seemed as though the people living there were waiting for their fate to be sealed, their existence hanging by a fragile land. At the same time, others were unknowingly digging their way into disaster, oblivious to the looming catastrophe.

Curious to know more, I tried to capture a clear image of the place. However, due to the distance, the quality of my camera, and the rough road conditions, I couldn’t get the perfect photo. But what I did capture was meaningful to get the reality of that village. Later, upon checking the location, I found that it lies in Godawari Municipality-7, Devichaur, Babiyagaun, Lalitpur, Nepal.

The village lies on a landscape that shows all the signs of near-future catastrophe. Beneath it flows the Bagmati River, a water source contaminated by pollution and human neglect. The land is fragile with steep slopes, cracked rocks, and weak soil, making it prone to landslides. However, continuous excavation without study or measures weakens the land, making landslides inevitable due to uncontrolled soil and concrete extraction.

Standing at a distance, I analyzed the land structure, the topography, and the careless activities taking place. My mind was speeding with one terrifying thought: this village is a 100% death trap. Imagine living on land where everyday people and machines are digging beneath you, cutting away at the foundation of your home. What will happen when heavy rainfall arrives? What about during an earthquake? The consequences are too horrifying to ignore.

I asked myself: Why do local, provincial, and federal governments allow contractors to keep digging in such risky areas? The danger is clear the village is right above the excavation sites. This isn’t just carelessness; it’s a deadly trap created by powerful contractors and ignored by the government.

The most disturbing part is that government officials, both local and national, see this happening every day. They witness the destruction describing, yet no action is taken. Are they waiting for a disaster to strike before they wake up? Or are they complicit in this slow-moving catastrophe?

Development Should Not Come at the Cost of Lives

I fully support development and prosperity. But development should not mean saving one side while burying another. True progress does not sacrifice lives in the name of infrastructure.

The government must immediately take action:

  1. Relocate the affected families to safe areas with proper shelter and land where they can rebuild their livelihoods.
  2. Stop reckless excavation near settlements that are already at high risk of landslides.
  3. Strengthen environmental regulations and enforce strict monitoring to prevent such disasters.

If no action is taken, this is not just negligence it is a crime against poor and vulnerable communities. Contractors and government authorities alike will bear responsibility for every life lost.

The time to act is now before this village becomes another tragic statistic.

Pic. 2: Landslide-prone area, high-risk village, and continuous excavation.
Pic 3 : Close view of the high-risk village and houses


Thank you for reading my blog and visiting my site.

Tek Bhat

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